chapter765

The room suddenly filled with an awkward tension. Luke cleared his throat. "Lydia, is he... your student?"

Lydia nodded. "Yeah."

Luke hesitated, not sure what else to say. "I'll just... go walk around a bit."

Everywhere he looked, the place was packed with high-tech gadgets that blew his mind.

Once Luke left, Connor glanced at Lydia. Her face was as calm as ever, but he couldn't keep quiet anymore. "Does he come here a lot?"

Lydia gave a soft yes. "He needs to do experiments, and someone has to keep an eye on the place."

Neal usually dropped by once a week. He was too busy for anything more, so weekends were the only time he made it.

Connor felt a wave of jealousy he'd never experienced before. Neal seemed even tougher to deal with than Jay. At least Jay and Lydia weren't that close and barely crossed paths. But Neal was different. He practically lived in her house, showed up here all the time, and even had iris scan access. That wasn't the kind of privilege just anyone got. Connor didn't have any of that.

He couldn't help himself. "If we hadn't come to see Luke today, when were you ever going to bring me here?"

He knew the question sounded needy, but he had to ask.

Lydia just laughed under her breath. "Is it just me, or do you seem jealous?"

Connor went quiet. Was it really that obvious?

Seeing his expression, Lydia finally gave in. "There isn't much to see here anyway. I don't come by that often myself. I only brought Luke today because I thought he could use a place to relax."

That only made Connor feel worse. His jealousy just got worse. "So if it wasn't for Luke, you still wouldn't have brought me here?"

"Is that a problem?" Lydia blinked at him, looking genuinely confused. She hardly came here herself.

Connor knew Lydia valued her freedom more than anything. She hated feeling tied down. But still, he couldn't help the way he felt.

Lydia watched him sulk and let out a

sigh. "Connor, I have a lot of people

like him in my life Are you

e at every single one of them?"

5, wi

Connor looked straight at her, just as serious. "know you do. But why are you okay with bringing Luke, but tnot me? Lydia want to know all all of you Not just the part of you everyone else gets to see."

Lydia gave him a helpless smile. But I did bring you here today, didn't I?" "But you only brought me because you brought Luke. I'm just... an extra.

Now Lydia finally understood why he was upset.

"Alright. Next time, I'll bring only you. Happy now?"

Connor still looked grumpy. "But..."

Lydia couldn't help but laugh. "Connor, don't push your luck, okay?"

Connor grumbled, "Other guys can come into your place, but I can't."

"You're here right now, aren't you?" Lydia shot back.

"That's only because you brought me," Connor said, refusing to back down.

Suddenly, Lydia realized what this

was really about. So all this time, he was just sulking? Men's hearts

were impossible to figure out

sometimes.

"Connor, next time just say what you mean. Don't make me guess."

"That's because you don't understand me well enough."

She stared at him. For a second, this usually confident man looked genuinely hurt and almost a little pitiful.

Lydia gave up. Mr. Jefferson, don't be sad. I'll register your iris scan right now."